Brace for automobile-axles.



W BROWN.

BRACE FOR AUTOMOBILE AXLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14 1915- 1,245,4:33. Patented Nov. 6; 1917.

WI'TNESSES: r I INVENTOR Wlw/m/Broww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BROWN, or

TAITT,OALIFORNIA,ASS1GNOR or ONE-HALF TO soLoMoN COLEMAN, OF TAFT, CALIFOIBNIIIA.

BRAGE FOB AUloM-oBlLE-AxLEs.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed July 1 9 5. Serial No. 39,858.

To all whom it may concern:

,Be it known that I, TVILLIAM BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taft, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented new and useful Braces for Automobile-Axles, of which the inexpensive andeificient'device of strong and durable construction, which can be readily connected to an axle and radius rods.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter'described and pointedout in the claims; It will be evident that many slight changes may be jmade in the form and arrangement of the several parts to be described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence I do not wish to be limited' to the exact construction: herein set forth.

1 Inthe accompanying drawings, 7 1

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the invention, showing it applied to an axle and radius rods. I

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a frame of an automobile, showing the invention applied thereto.

r Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of the brace bar, showing the crotch of thebrace in engagement with the forked portion of the radius rods, one of the jaws of the crotch of the brace being in section.

Fig. 4 is an end view of one of the ter minals of the brace bar, showing one of the I jaws of the crotch in section.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the clip.

'Fig. 6 is a view partly in section showing a modified form of brace bar.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a clip integrally connected to the axle.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view through the clip and axle shown in Fig. 7,

A represents the front axle of an automob le to which posts 1 are connected. Radius rods 2 are connected to theposts 1, and

connected together at their ends forming a fork 3. I A ball ieis connected to the inner or rear terminals of the rods'and received Patented Nov. 6, 1917.-

in a socket 5, which is connected to the frame B. The frame, axle and radius rods are parts employed in the construction of the Ford automobile. l

A U-shaped clip 6 is mounted-upon the axle and the ter-minals of the clip are bent into engagement with the axle, as indicated at 7. -A shank 8 is formed on the clip and 1s located beneath the axle A. The shank is provided with an opening, through which H the outer terminal ofthe brace bar 9 extends. A cotter pin 10 extends through the outer end of thebrace bar for fastening the bar to the clip. A collar 11 is formed on the bar 9 and interposed between the collarv and shank 8 is a coilspring 12. crotch 13 is formed at the inner terminal ofthe bar 9, forming jaws '14 and 15., The upper jaw 14 has its lower face convex, and is provided with outwardly extending wings l6 whichare adapted to be received upon the upper surfaces of the inner ,terminalsof the radius rods 2 for supporting the inner terminal of the radius or brace bar 9. IThe lower jaw 1 5;extends obliquely from the bar 9 and hasthe side walls thereofbeveled, as at 17, producing a sharp edge which is re- .ceived into the fork 3 of the radius rods.

The jaw extends rearwardly beyond the fork portion 3, so that the brace bar 9 is preventedfrom becoming disengaged from the radius rods 2 by any vertical movement, and, as both jaws project beyond the fork portion 3 of; the radius rods, the bar 9 is without becoming disengaged from the radius rods. 7 V c When any strainer vibration is imparted tothe front axle, rearward movement of the capable of a slight longitudinal movement axle will be against the spring 12 on the H brace bar 9. This will act as a cushion and take up the vibration imparted to the axle,

and at the same time assist the radius rods 2 in maintaining the axle in position.

In Fig. 6 is disclosed the brace bar made; in two sections, 18 and 19. The section 18 is received within the section 19 and is capable of sliding movement therein. The section 1 is closed at one end, and a Spring 2O bears against the closed end of the section 19 and is wrapped around the inner or rear terminal of the section 18 and bears against a collar 21 on the section 18. The section 18 is adapted to be moved or forced into the section 19, and when forced into the section the spring will be compressed. The spring normally tends to press the section 18 outwardly toward the forward end of the machine. The section 19 is provided with the crotch 13 and the aws 14 and 15.

The distinction between the brace bar shown in Fig. 6, and the brace bar shown in Figs. 1, f2, and 3, is that the brace bar is made in two sections and the spring 20 is interposed between the two, sections, instead of between the collar 11 and the shank 8 of the clip 6, as shown in the construction set forth in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The brace bar disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 an 3 telescopes the shank 8 of the clip 6, and the section 18, of the form shown in Fig. 6, telescopes the section 19,130 that in'each form a telescopic connection isprovided, and by interposingthe coil spring between the telescoping sections or parts, a. cushion is provided for relieving the strain and vibration which maybe imparted to the axle.

In Figs. 7 and'8 I have shown the clip shank 8 forming an integral part of the axle A. The clip 6 is intended to be used with axles, which are not provided with the integral clip shank 8. This clip shank 8 may be made integral with the axle during the construction of the axle, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the use of the invention in connection with the removable clip 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a construction which is simple in its application to a machine, for the purpose of relieving the front axle of vibration and strain which may be imparted thereto. Furthermore, the brace bar might be applied or connected directly to the frame of the machine instead of connecting it to the forked end of the radius rods 2.

hat is, claimed is,-

1. The combination with a frame, an axle and radius rods connected to'the axle and frame and having the terminals thereof remote from the axle connected together forming a fork, of a brace bar slidably connected to said axle at one end and flexibly and detachably engaging the fork between said radius rods at its opposite end, and resilient means for'retai-ning said last-mentioned end of the brace bar in engagement with said fork.

2. The combination with a frame and an axle of a motor driven'vehicle and radius rods connected to the axleand connected together at their inner terminals forming a fork connected to the frame,'of'a detachable brace bar movably attached at one end to the central portion of the axle and flexibly engaging at its opposite end the inner portion ofthe fork between the rods, and resilient means tending to keep the last-mentioned end of the bar in engagement with the fork.

3. The combination with a pair of radius rods attached to the axle and frame of a motor driven vehicle, and connected together forming a fork at the ends thereof remote from the axle, of a detachable brace bar movably attached at one end tothe central portion of the axle and provided at its opposite end with a crotchengaging the .fork

lower jaws engaging the upper and lower portions of the fork to prevent the disengagement of the bar from the forkand a central portion flexibly engaging the fork to allow play between the same and the bar, and resilient means tending to keept-he lastmentioned end of the bar in engagement with the fork.

'4. The combination with an axle provided with a central depending lug and radius rods connected to said axle at the ends thereof and converging forming a fork at their opposite ends, of a detachable brace bar slidably supportedat one end by said lug and having at its opposite end a crotch engaging the fork between the rods, said crotch being provided with a vertically extending portion to allow a certain amount of play between the fork and bar, and outwardly projecting jaws to prevent the disengagement of the bar from said fork by vertical movements up or down, and a spring for retaining said bar in engagement with said fork.

5. The combination with an axle having.

between the rods and comprising upper and fork, of a brace bar having an end slidably engaging said lug and extending ,through said aperture and flexibly engaging at its opposite end the fork between said radius rods, said last-mentioned end comprising a crotch allowing a certain amount of play and preventing the disengagement of said bar from the fork, and a coiled spring encircling said bar and tending to move the same into engagement with said fork to re tain it in position.

6. The combination with a frame and axle of a motor driven vehicle and radius rods connected to the axle and frame and havin their inner terminals connected together forming a forkedend, of a brace bar movably connected at one end to said axle and provided with a crotch at its opposite end flexibly and movably engaging the fork between the radius rods and having upper and wardly extending wings which engage the ieo inner terminals of the rods for supporting In testimony, that I claim the foregoing the bar upon the radius rods, the lower jaw as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signa- 10 having the sides thereof beveled to provide ture in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

a sharp inner surface to enter the forked end and extend beneath the forked end for WILLIAM BROWN preventing the disengagement of the bar Witnesses:

from the fork, and a spring for retaining R. B. WHITTEMORE,

said crotch in engagement With said fork. J. E. OATER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

